GOP Rep. Steve Gottwalt introduces the proposed constitutional amendment to limit marriage to one man and one woman, to be put before voters in 2012 general election ballot.

Gottwalt: “This is not about hatred. This is not about discrimination or intolerance. I have faith that we as Minnesotans can have a reasonable discussion.”

Karen Clark, the only openly lesbian member of the Legislature, responds: talks about her partner, Jacquelyn, and the state’s human rights law. One of my colleagues across the aisle says he knows I love my partner Jacquelyn as much as he loves his wife. It’s a tender truth. I have paid my dues, my required share… You will have to face me, and your own constituents. We are offering you a choice to do something different.”

Updates will follow in reverse chronological order, below.

10:08 PM After nearly four hours of debate, 20 DFLers have spoken, three Republicans. Only Gottwalt, amendment’s sponsor, has stood up to speak for amendment so far.

9:14 PM More personal stories. Jeff Hayden, DFL-Mpls, says his own interracial marriage was once barred by law, urges his colleagues not to raise similar bar for same-sex couples. Carlos Mariani, DFL-St. Paul, says his own brother is openly gay. “I got my butt kicked defending my baby brother” in inner-city Chicago, where there was “immense intolerance.”

8:17 PMDFL caucus spokeswoman says Rep. Bobby Joe Champion, DFL-MInneapolis had to leave state for family emergency. Says he and David Dill, DFL-Crane Lake, are both officially excused.

8:06 PMRep. Terry Morrow, DFL-St. Peter, has told House that his great-grandfather was a slave, grandfather identified as a black man, and that his own family had once feared to travel to the South for fear of miscegenation laws, since struck down. Compares them to same-sex marriage ban. DFL Rep. John Ward, with who has a disabled arm, told of being refused every summer job — even clerical duties — by his father’s railroad. “I have walked in those shoes, faced discrimination.”

7:01 House votes down motion for re-referral to judiciary committee 61-71

6:51GOP Rep. Tim Kelly, Red Wing, rises to oppose re-referral, but says he also opposes putting on the ballot “an amendment to remove some personal choices and freedoms from a select few. In my mind, we’re starting to talk about prejudice.”

6:58Rep. Tim Kelly, R-Red Wing, asks DFLer Murphy to withdraw re-referral, says “I believe people on this side of the aisle will… vote this amendment down.”

6:40 PMDFLer Larry Hosch says he voted to support the measure in 2005. Says he has changed his mind. Asks to re-refer measure.

6:30 PM: Motion on the floor is re-referral to judiciary committee, offered by DFLer Erin Murpy, 64A, of St. Paul. Clark, of Minneapolis, is speaking in support of the motion. This will be a key test vote.